No. 9 Moment – men's basketball nearly breaks GNAC record in tournament win
August 19, 2013
Chris Brooks
907-474-6805
Continuing our countdown to the top moment from the past year, we now take a look at our No. 9 moment of 2012-13. The ÐÓ°Épro men's basketball team, who surprised the entire league with 11 more wins and a fourth-place finish last season, nearly set a new Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship record in its first ever tournament appearance back on March 7 in Lacey, Wash.
In the Nanooks' 87-73 win in the GNAC quarters against fifth-seeded Montana State Billings, they put on a shooting clinic, converting on 58.2 percent (32-55) of their field goal attempts. That percentage was the second highest in tournament history, trailing only Northwest Nazarene, which shot 58.5 percent at the 2011 championship.
In the second half, ÐÓ°Épro was able to pull away from the 2012 GNAC champions by shooting an impressive 66.7 percent (16-24) in the final 20 minutes. The Yellowjackets got to within seven points in the first two minutes of the second stanza but ÐÓ°Épro's consistency on the offensive side of ball allowed for the 'Nooks to lead by double digits for the final 12:54.
Five players scored in double figures for ÐÓ°Épro, including a team-high 17 points from junior reserve Stefan Tica in only 18 minutes played. He was perfect from long-range, draining all three three-pointers attempted in the victory.
The win, which avenged a defeat in Billings the week prior, advanced ÐÓ°Épro to the conference semifinals where it eventually fell to top-seeded Western Washington. WWU would then go on to advance to the national semifinals in the NCAA Championship.
Tomorrow, we'll reveal our No. 8 moment of the 2012-13 season – STAY TUNED!
SCHEDULE OF RELEASES
Aug. 13 –
Aug. 14 –
Aug. 15 – Men's Basketball Nearly Breaks GNAC Record in Tournament Win
Aug. 16 – No. 8 Moment
Aug. 17 – No. 7 Moment
Aug. 18 – No. 6 Moment
Aug. 19 – No. 5 Moment
Aug. 20 – No. 4 Moment
Aug. 21 – No. 3 Moment
Aug. 22 – No. 2 Moment
Aug. 23 – No. 1 Moment